Picture-hook



(No Model.)

A. RILEY,

PICTURE HOOK.

No. 267,459. Patented Nov 14, 1882.

WIZIEESES I INVENTDR W W 2/ m M Uwrrno STATES PATENT @FFKCE.

ALBERTA RILEY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

PICTURE-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 267,459, dated November14, 1882,

Application filed May 8, 1882.

all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERTA RILEY, acitizen ofthe United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk andState of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements inPicture-Hooks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, makingpart of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view ofa picturehook constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 isvertical section through the same applied to a picture-molding. Fig. 3is a vertical section through the same in areversed position, with itsslotted or notched end caught over the head of a nail of screwprojecting from the wall. Fig. 4 is a similar section through anordinary picture-hook having its end slotted or notched in accordancewith my invention, to enable it to be caught over the head of a nail orscrew projecting from the wall.

The ordinary S-shaped hook forsuspending pictures from thepicture-molding of an apartment is objectionable, for the reason thatthe portion which fits over the rounded edge of the top or bead of themolding is liable to become detached therefrom in moving the picture,while the strain or weight of the picture is brought directly upon thebead of the molding over which the hook fits, which is thus frequentlybroken from this cause.

My invention has for its object to overcome these objections; and itconsists in a picturehook constructed with an upper hook or lip, adaptedto fit over the bead of the molding, as usual,aud two hooks in front forreceiving the cords of two pictures, if desired, the upper cord-hookbeing used for the heavier picture when two are suspended, or for asingle picture where one only is to be hung, the position of the uppercord-hook being such as to cause the hook to act as alever and hugcloselyinto the molding, against which it takes a bearing, therebylessening the strain on the upper bead, the book being thus kept inplace and all liability of its slipping off or becoming detached therebyavoided.

Myinvention also consists in a picture-hook provided at one end with aslot or notch to enable it to be caught over and suspended I from thehead of an ordinary nail or screw pro- (No model.)

[jecting from the wall, thus also adapting the hook for use in anapartment not provided with picture-molding.

In the said drawings, A represents a picturemolding, over the upperportion or head I) of which-fits the upper hook or lip c of thepicture-hook B, which is of the form seen in Figs. 1 and 2, and isprovided with two hooks, d e. in front, one above the other, the upperhook at, which projects out in advance of the hook e, being intended forthe reception of the cord or wire of a large or heavy picture, and thelower hook, e, for the reception of the cord or wire of a small orlighter picture, when two are suspended one above the other. When onlyone picture, however, is to be hung the upper hook at is preferably usedfor the reason that its position is such that when the weight issuspended therefrom the hook B will act as a lever with its fulcrum at],and bug in closelyto the molding A, against which it takes a bearing,thereby lessening the strain upon the head I), and at the same timeinsuring the hook being kept in place and avoiding all liability of itsbeing twisted to one side in moving the picture, and thus becomingdetached from the bead b-advantages not possessed by picture-hooks asheretofore constructed, which, owing to the relative position of thehook over which the cord passes, with respect to the hook which fitsover the bead of the molding, are liable to hang or set off therefrom insuch a manner that they frequently become detached by a slight lateraltwist produced in moving the picture. The lower hook, c, is providedwith a slot or notch, g, which enables the hook B, when reversed, asseenin Fig.3, to be caught over and suspended from the head of a nail orscrew, it, projecting from the wall of an apartment not provided with apicture-molding, which will be found a great convenience, as the hook isthus adapted for use either in a house having picture-moldings or in onenot provided therewith, it being merely necessary in the latter case todrive in an ordinary board-nail, or insert a common screw, and hang thehook thereon, as seen in Fig. 3, thus retaining the ornamentalappearance or finish due to the employment of a picture-hook, which ithas heretofore been impracticable to use in a house unprovided withpicture-molding. Furthermore, the head of the nail or screw is entirelyconcealed from ICC view by the front portion of the hook, and inremoving from one house to another the hook can be instantly detachedand used elsewhere, leaving the old nail or screw still in the wall,thus avoiding the trouble, inconvenience, and liability of defacing thewall incident to the removal of ordinary picture-nails, which, onaccount of their expense, are generally removed from the walls for usein another house.

I do not confine myself to the employment of a slot or notch, g, in apicture-hook of the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, as it may be applied toany picture-hook of ordinary forrn,as seen in Fig. 4, without departingfrom the spirit of my invention.

Picture-hooks constructed in accordance with myinvention may be made ofcast metal, or formed of a single piece of sheet metal, or

of two pieces riveted or soldered together. I prefer, however, to makethe hook of a single piece of sheet metal bent to the required shape.

hat I claim as my in vcntion,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The improved picture-hook B, provided with the books 0 e, and theintermediate hook 25 (I, made integral, substantially as set forth.

2. The improved picture-hook B, provided with the hooks 0 e and theintermediate hook (I, the book 0 being slotted, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth. o

Vitness my hand this 5th day of May, A. D. 1882.

ALBERTA RILEY.

WVitnesses:

P. E. TESCHEMACHER, W. J. CAMBRIDGE.

